The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-03
LITTLE LILY.
Her Mysterious Disappearance
and Her Recovery.

Her Mysterious Disappearance
and Her Recovery.
Uncle Abe, untidy in person from an
hours employment in the coal cellar,
JeA dezpite all, the very incarnation
oe family dignity, rose from his resting
place by the area walk, and called af-
1er me, As ran up the steps: "Marse
Will! Dat bad mans done been here
aein, an he low he gwinter fotch
Ilay wild him mex week"
~ Is 60" affirmed my wife, who
Va waiting for me At the door. She
4dded in an undertone: Il wish you'd
talk with Abe, and try to reconcile him
- he change"
Noah Peters, the bad man." was to
Unele Abe the embodiment Of evil. To
n others Peters seemed a hard-work-
lng. fnild-tempered, and mild-man-
netsd negro; but his father-in-law
1ka6 WAS tho relation which my faith
I'll old colored friend held to him
Was disposed to consider him an alto
!. Gother worthless character. Nothing
tpuld persuade Uncle Abe that Noah
Was fitted to be any thing better in life
Ghan ''botheration" to the unfortu-
nate persons whom fate made his asso-
olates.
To be sure, when Noah and Eliza
were married, Uncle Abe witnessed
he ceremony and took part in the fes-
tivities Later on, when the mother
lie went out when little Eliza was born,
Re wept with his grief-stricken son-in-
law. and did his best to help him bear
The burden. Both he and Aunt Della
opened their hearts to tho motherless
babe, and the father and child were
made heartily welcome at the little
homestead which Uncle Abe had toiled
% hard to gain.
For three years there was no break
IN the ties of mutual esteem which
bound Uncle Abe to Noah. Then the
latter, delighted with the winsome ways
Of bis baby, proposed to her grsndpar-
ents that he should employ a house,
keeper and take the child to brigh ten
his lonely home. Against this step the
old man vigorously protested; and find
ing that, though Noah did not press the
spbject he was still resolved on max
Ing the change, Abe's good opinion Of
bis son-in-law gave place to something
like aversion.
He's de most obstinatest man ! cher
eeed,'' Uncle Abe complained. when
The agitation first began. HE can't
ray muffin, on'y 'dat's my baby!' He
don hold no argument, on'y he comes
right back onto dat!''
Several months elapsed after Noah
6rst preached the suggestion which
was 80 coolly received, and he said lit
lle about the child's removals; but, as
Afterwards appeared, he did not sbate
biz dissemination to possess her. Reg
ulsrly. on Sunday. Della said, he Wis
he'd them, laden with candy for This
bsby;'' and all of Abe's efforts during
tie week did not avail to obliterate
from the child's mind favorable i'm
preston Of her father.
Now, it seemed, the crisis had come,
Noah, having once decided to take little
Eliza to himself, would pursue his pur-
fose with that unhinching pertinacity
which ID sometimes the characteristic
q 'seasy-going" men. 1t was just and
right I.knew, that he should hold his
only near and dear one, yet feared
Re effect which the loss Of their pet
would have upon her grandparents.
As these thoughts crossed my mind,
I descended the steps and went to Uncle
Abe, who stood still in the attitude OF
deep detection. The low seat on the
1pGeing, from which he had risen,
faced : bascment window. Inside,
Aunt Della was beating eggs, pausing
now and then to wipe her eyes.
what does Noah say. Uncle Abe?''
I asked.
Abe's rambling answer, given in q
weak and wandering voice, was empha-
eixed with frequent sobs and ejacula-
1ions BY listening Della
He done says he amt got no call to
wait De low-down niggers is twittin'
him dat he KANT ia keer OBJ his baby,
~ he lows he won't STAN it He got
1liss Nancy Riggs to work over t. his
house. an Lily won't be no harm, he
~, fer gwine home. done telled him
- oughter have her be brung up same
way her mudder was, cl'ar OBJ de mean
niggers an de white trash. Den he
~ his fodder b'longed to Marse Ran.
dolphs folks 'foah de wah, same,
mem DEFY, an he knowed how tc
brung up childun. dom see no helF
FORT; recken dat baby got ter CO."
ssBress de little lambl'' sounded Aunt
! Delia's hollow voice, from the recesse.
- the pantry, eth jes' bout kill
( ne. ! 'spcctr'
Noah doesn't intend to make hi.
bome away from the city, does hea'
y 1sked.
ssN-no," conceded Abe, as it seemed
osnewhat reluctant to show the exac'
Foundation for his grief. He gwine
\ ~ move onter B street"
s'Isn't that the next street to YOU
4,4nl,'
1T ain't furder.'
'sWhy, then, you can see her vcry
s olIpn. argued. ut isn'tas though
~ were to be taken from Washington
& I'm mustn't lose heart, Uncle Abe, 81
Ing As the child is hardly out Of arm
Go6ch. Aunt Della. rely on you {.
MP him look at the matter NOR
almIy."
II kaint!'' moaned Della. at tn,
widow. Pears like nobody know
4 Now Lily, you mizzable littl
eajnp, git outer dem raisins! No
< ~ {; you take dem raisins; take an,
6s9! Ny gracious goodness, kahn
~ Der 60 way fun met
The bright and saucy face Of it'll
Eliza pecred out at me from the win
8 Gow. as Della ended her mingled
1cold and lament. The child.
o60bby hands were filed with raisins
- hsid them mp to me t.iumphantly
'(Jnker Abel pay 90 for aesc
~ Il WILL" she said with miscnicv
81 and smile. ~ be don't